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☆ ChatGPT needs to 'drink' a water bottle's worth of fresh water for every 20 to 50 questions you ask, researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Will Gendron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Training GPT-3 requires water to stave off the heat produced during the computational process. Every 20 to 50 questions, ChatGPT servers need to "drink" the equivalent of a 16.9 oz water bottle. While training GPT-3 in its data centers, Microsoft was estimated to have used 700,000 liters — or about 185,000 gallons — of fresh water. When asked about LaMDA's water usage, Google pointed to a November 2022 report that published 2021 data on the broad consumption of water across data centers. "While it is impossible to know the actual water footprint without detailed information from Google, our estimate shows that the total water footprint of training LaMDA is in the order of million liters," the researchers wrote.

BEIJING, April 13 (Reuters) - China's exports unexpectedly surged in March, with officials flagging rising demand for electric vehicles, but analysts cautioned the improvement partly reflects suppliers catching up with unfulfilled orders after last year's COVID-19 disruptions. Exports in March shot up 14.8% from a year ago, snapping five straight months of declines and stunning economists who predicted a 7.0% fall in a Reuters poll. "Sluggish external demand and geopolitical factors will bring greater challenges to China's trade development," he added. Factory surveys showed export orders falling in March, a contrast to more upbeat readings for the services sector, which has benefited from China's reopening. Reporting by Joe Cash and Ellen Zhang; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pentagon Document Leak: What We Know So Far and the Biggest Takeaways
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Nancy A. Youssef | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Federal agents arrested a 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman in connection with a leak of purported highly classified documents surrounding the war in Ukraine and other topics. The arrest caps a fast-moving probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pentagon and others to pinpoint the source of a leak of documents.

BEIJING, April 13 (Reuters) - China's exports unexpectedly surged for March, driven by strong shipments of solar products, new-energy vehicles and lithium batteries and as supply chain conditions continued to improve from their COVID paralysis. This came as a surprise to the market," said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. Lv Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs, attributed the upside surprise to strength in demand for electric vehicles, solar products and lithium batteries. "Sluggish external demand and geopolitical factors will bring greater challenges to China's trade development," he added. Reporting by Joe Cash and Ellen Zhang; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Soccer–Sevilla fight back to draw with Man United
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Europa League - Quarter Final - First Leg - Manchester United v Sevilla - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - April 13, 2023 Manchester United's Antony in action with Sevilla's Marcos Acuna Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithMANCHESTER, England, April 13 (Reuters) - Manchester United conceded two late own goals to allow Sevilla to snatch a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final at Old Trafford on Thursday. United were reduced to 10 men when defender Lisandro Martinez was carried off injured and Youssef En-Nesyri's stoppage-time header glanced off Harry Maguire into the goal to give Sevilla a huge lift ahead of next week's second leg. Sabitzer, who is on loan from Bayern Munich, netted his first European goal for United in the 14th minute, when he controlled a pinpoint pass from Bruno Fernandes and shot past keeper Bono. The Austrian doubled his tally seven minutes later, latching on to a fine pass from Anthony Martial and finishing well. Reporting by Lori EwingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - America's cybersecurity watchdog has no confidence that the cellular network used by American first responders and the military is secure against digital intrusions, U.S. The letter from the Oregon Democrat, a member of the intelligence committee, was addressed to the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). It concerns FirstNet, a dedicated mobile network for public safety officials such as emergency workers, firefighters and law enforcement. "These security flaws are also a national security issue, particularly if foreign governments can exploit these flaws to target U.S. government personnel," his letter said. Wyden called on FirstNet to share any security audits with the NSA and CISA or - alternatively - for the government to commission audits of its own.

Summary Sources: Military equipment disguised as relief suppliesSyria is a conflict zone for Israel and IranIsrael mounts swift campaign against IraniansAMMAN, April 12 (Reuters) - Iran has used earthquake relief flights to bring weapons and military equipment into its strategic ally Syria, nine Syrian, Iranian, Israeli and Western sources said. The sources told Reuters that the goal was to buttress Iran's defences against Israel in Syria and to strengthen Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The supplies included advanced communications equipment and radar batteries and spare parts required for a planned upgrade of Syria's Iran-provided air defence system in its civil war, said the sources, two regional sources and a Western intelligence source said. Regional sources told Reuters that Israel quickly became aware of the flow of weapons into Syria and mounted an aggressive campaign to counter it. A radar station used for drones was also hit on April 3, the regional source added, corroborating what two Western intelligence sources had told Reuters.

☆ Here's the 13-page pitch deck Stratyfy, a fintech using AI to help lenders work with the underbanked, used to raise $10 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Stratyfy uses AI to help lenders extend more credit to underbanked communities. Here's the 13-page pitch deck Stratyfy used to raise its so-called "institutional seed." Stratyfy works to help lenders eliminate biasStratyfy uses machine-learning algorithms to help lenders remove sharp cutoffs — like those based on credit history lengths or current income — that are often used in their credit decisioning. The core engine uses a lender's traditional credit data, in addition to alternative data, to offer a breakdown of factors in a given borrower's profile. Here's the pitch deck Stratyfy used to raise $10 million.

☆ Used Tesla Model Y's are listed for 22% less than 3 years ago. Here are the EVs with the worst resale value.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Many car buyers wonder how electric cars will hold or lose their value over time. Here's which electric cars depreciated the most over the past three years. The average price of a used EV was about $32,750 in December, according to Recurrent's index of popular used EV models. Industry experts at iSeeCars.com pulled data on the average list price for several used electric cars that were 1 to 5 years old. Used Volvo XC40 Recharge SUVs in that age range saw the largest percent decrease in their average listing price since 2021 at a whopping 36%.

☆ Here's the 13-page pitch deck supply-chain-tech startup Tive used to raise a $54 million to keep growing its 'AirTag' for global freight
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tive makes a tracking device that helps supply chains keep track of their goods as they move. The 8-year-old startup announced a $54 million Series B funding round last year, led by AXA Venture Partners, which brought the company's total funding to $82 million. Tive trackers use cellular networks to broadcast their data faster and more accurately than consumer products. Tive sensors track temperature, whether a shipment has been opened, and whether it's been stored incorrectly. Here's the pitch deck Tive used to raise its $54 million Series B round to get one step closer:TiveTiveTiveTiveTiveTiveTiveTiveTiveTiveTiveTive

☆ Slower China factory activity growth challenges economic recovery prospects
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China's economic activity picked up in the first two months of 2023 as consumption and infrastructure investment drove a recovery after the end of COVID-19 disruptions and retail sales swung back to growth. "However, amid rapidly worsening geopolitical tensions and financial concerns outside of China, this may not last long," they added in a note. While business and consumer sentiment is starting to pick up, the manufacturing sector remains under pressure amid sluggish global demand and stubbornly high costs. Any fallout from a recent crisis of confidence in the global banking sector could also affect demand for China's goods, adding to pressure on manufacturers. Factory activity was hit by slowing growth in production and customer demand, with the output and new orders sub-indexes showing declines from February's levels.

☆ Why Blackouts, Power Outages Are Becoming More Common
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Taylor Dorrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Power outages have increased 64% from the early 2000s, and weather-related outages — many driven by the worsening climate crisis — have increased 78%. A record-breaking blizzard in Buffalo, New York, this winter caused power outages throughout the city, resulting in the deaths of 47 residents. In 2021, a heat wave led to power outages and the deaths of hundreds in the Pacific Northwest. While regional organizations might use fees to penalize companies for power outages, it's now much harder to pinpoint and hold a person or entity responsible. In the meantime, the climate crisis will continue to wreak havoc on an aging grid system that puts profits over reliability.

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☆ Locks of hair compose a symphony of genetic information on Beethoven
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Researchers said on Wednesday his genome showed the German composer was both genetically predisposed to liver disease and had hepatitis B virus infection. The new findings suggest there were multiple factors behind his liver disease including genetics, viral infection and alcohol consumption. "Prior to this study, alcohol was the only definitely known risk factor for Beethoven's liver disease." Beethoven experienced progressive hearing loss starting at age 29 and by 44 his hearing loss was complete, though he continued to compose masterpieces. There was no evidence found for conditions hypothesized by some experts such as otosclerosis or Paget's disease, Begg said.

☆ Karen Firestone: This is what’s working in today’s market – and what should keep working
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Karen Firestone | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

However, whatever the overall market action, there are always stocks that outperform considerably, encouraging an effort to pinpoint what the market craves, even in tough times. We examined the best performing stocks this year, from the universe of equities with a market capitalization over $4 billion. This industry, along with communication services, led the market up in 2020 and 2021 but collapsed in 2022. Tech stocks rose during Covid as demand accelerated, then became priced to perfection, in many cases. Karen Firestone is chairperson, CEO and co-founder of Aureus Asset Management, an investment firm dedicated to providing contemporary asset management to families, individuals and institutions.

☆ Deel Speed: The inside story of a $12 billion HR startup's breakneck growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Rob Price | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +32 min

Insider spoke with more than 30 current or former Deel workers about the HR company's extraordinary rise, and the unconventional tactics that made it possible. "I think if you talk to anyone, they would say that Alex is the face but all decisions run through Phillipe," one former Deel worker told Insider. "They lose every employment and labor protection," Valerio De Stefano, a professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, said of independent contractors. Alex Bouaziz, Deel on Centre Stage during day two of Collision 2022 at Enercare Centre in Toronto, Canada. The company didn't have an internal human-resources team until sometime in 2021, by which point it had grown to hundreds of people.

☆ China’s economic recovery is on track. But youth unemployment is getting worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s economic recovery appears to be on track as it gradually emerges from three years of its strict zero-Covid policy. But rising youth unemployment underscores the tough challenges ahead for the new government to achieve its economic targets and maintain social stability. “The economic data released today confirmed the recovery in China was well on track,” said Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. Recent PMI figures had indicated a strong recovery in China’s economic activity, with February’s factory output from large, state-owned enterprises hitting the highest level in more than a decade. A large number of employment seekers line up outside a job fair in Nanning, Guangxi province on February 18, 2023.

☆ U.S. Senate leader Schumer urges federal safety probe into all major freight railroads
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday urged the National Transportation Safety Board to launch an investigation into safety practices of all seven major freight railroads, following the East Palestine, Ohio derailment. The companies, in addition to Norfolk Southern, are BNSF Railway, CSX, Union Pacific, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and Kansas City Southern, Schumer said in a letter to the agency. On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, resulting in the release of over 1 million gallons of harmful pollutants. "Norfolk Southern isn't the only rail company that has spent years lobbying to loosen regulations, neglect safety upgrades and lay off workers," Schumer said. Last week, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw testified to a Senate hearing and is set to appear at another March 22 rail safety Senate hearing.

However, further announcements are expected in coming weeks as China implements a reorganisation of its financial regulatory structure and other government bodies. "Opting for continuity in these critical economic roles suggests an emphasis on credibility and stability," said Mattie Bekink, China director at the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network. The U.S.-educated central bank chief Yi, appointed PBOC governor in 2018, had widely been expected to retire after being left off the ruling Communist Party's Central Committee during the party's once-in-five-years congress in October. "It shows China wants to at least have a dialogue with the United States on monetary policy and financial cooperation," he said. The parliamentary session will end on Monday, with Xi expected to give a speech and Li, the new premier, scheduled to hold a televised media conference afterwards.

☆ 5 ways to beat the blues and be productive when you just don't feel like it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Jeanne Omlor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

By actively using creative visualization, you can activate intrinsic motivation to beat the blues. You need intrinsic motivation. With intrinsic motivation in mind, here is a simple action plan for getting motivated or re-motivated this winter:1. Of course, the best way to begin this entire journey to intrinsic motivation is just to start. Follow these five steps, and not only will you beat the winter blues, but you will accomplish goals with more ease and passion than ever before.

As debt obligations mount, some local governments are pushing banks to extend maturities and cut interest rates, sources said. Reuters Graphics"BLACK HOLES""The LGFVs have become the black hole of the Chinese financial system. Chinese banks and other financial institutions have been cautious on new lending to LGFVs over the past years. In recent months, some state-owned banks, asset managers, and insurers have been looking into their portfolios to screen LGFV borrowers with weaker creditworthiness and dispose them, separate financial sector sources told Reuters. Offshore branches of Chinese financial institutions have been major buyers of the bonds, industry sources said.

☆ I was VP at Google for 10 years. Here's the No. 1 skill I looked for at job interviews—very few people had it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Claire Hughes Johnson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

During my 10 years at Google as a VP, there were weeks where I would spend up to 40 hours conducting job interviews. So to make things easier, I always had one skill that I looked for in candidates before anything else: self-awareness. And when someone is highly self-aware, they're more motivated to learn because they're honest about what they need to work on. Plus, it's a rare trait: Research shows that although 95% of people think they're self-aware, only 10% to 15% actually are. If they only say good things, I probe what constructive feedback they've received.

☆ With pails and mugs, Philippine residents clean up oil spill
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

POLA, Philippines, March 7 (Reuters) - Residents of a central Philippine province affected by an oil spill from a sunken tanker endured the powerful stench of petroleum as they cleaned it up using buckets and mugs while authorities raced to contain environmental damage. Wearing personal protective equipment and masks, residents of the town of Pola in Oriental Mindoro, with the help of Philippine coast guard crew, collected debris soaked in oil and wiped thick sludge from rocks along the shore. "Here in our area the oil is really thick and the smell is strong," said 34-year-old resident Maribel Famadico while cleaning along the shore with other volunteers. "There is so much oil that we become nauseous when we are not wearing protection. [1/3] Volunteers dressed in personal protective equipment clean up the oil spill from the sunken fuel tanker MT Princess Empress, on the shore of Pola, in Oriental Mindoro province, Philippines, March 7, 2023.

☆ Philippines to deploy underwater vehicle to pinpoint location of stricken tanker
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A view of an oil spill at a beach in Caluya, Philippines March 4, 2023 in this still image obtained from social media video. A remotely operated autonomous vehicle would be deployed to help determine the exact location of the tanker, it said. Authorities want to know how much oil is inside and how to pump the remainder out and stop any leaks, experts said. The tanker's owner has contracted local agencies, Harbor Star Shipping Services and Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp., for the cleanup. If sea conditions are bad, it is also unsafe for our contractors to work," Rodrigo Bella, vice president of Harbor Star, told the media briefing.

☆ Forget ChatGPT, the AI Revolution Is Coming to Fix Your Email Inbox
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Shubham Agarwal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Like any tech, AI tools can run into bugs. On many occasions, Shortwave's summary tool refused to produce more than a sentence or two, leaving it no more useful than the subject line. A more-pressing concern for me, however, is what the presence of AI in email would mean for privacy. Because tech like ChatGPT collects and processes far more data than previous AI tools, Conitzer expects it to be regulated for not only privacy but also systemic biases. And if Shortwave's AI tool is any indication, I'm convinced it's our future.

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